Firefighters used a high-pressure water gun to literally hose down a would-be suicide jumper from a tall building.

Jun Lo, 34, was depressed and seeking to end his life in China's of Qingdao city in Shandong province.

He climbed the stairs of a five storey apartment block and perched on a ledge threatening to end his life.

Such suicides - and suicide attempts - have become so common in China that people frequently congregate on streets below to picnic and place bets on whether an individual will actually jump or not.

Those who survive often say they were influenced by popular TV programmes.

This latest failed attempt occurred on Monday this week. The man sat on a windowsill for two hours, bemoaning his lot to negotiators about his failed love affairs, his rotten job and his poor prospects.

But he would not get back inside.

(Image: CEN)

A police spokesman said: "He began to grow ever more agitated and we feared he was moving inexorably towards taking his own life.

"At one point he took of some clothes and set fire to them, throwing them from the building.

"The firemen below had set up a net to try to catch him but in the end decided to deploy the water cannon on him.

"The high pressure jet worked - it literally forced him back through the window where officers were able to grab and subdue him.

"The man has been taken to a psychiatric hospital.

"He had some love relationship problems and staged this would-be suicide show to vent out his depression."

Anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts can get confidential support by calling the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visiting a local Samaritans branch or clicking here for details.